Â鶹ӳ»­

July 2, 2024

Dear Wolf Pack Family,

It is with great excitement that I share an announcement made today by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to award approximately $21 million to the Â鶹ӳ»­ Tech Hub, a consortium led by the Â鶹ӳ»­. This statewide effort of 75-plus public, private and nonprofit partners will position Â鶹ӳ»­ as a globally competitive innovation center in the emerging lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors.

Our designation as the Â鶹ӳ»­ Lithium Batteries and Other EV Material Loop (Â鶹ӳ»­ Tech Hub) last October and the awarded funding from the EDA would not have been possible without the continued support and leadership of U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and other members of the Â鶹ӳ»­ Delegation as well as U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo, Â鶹ӳ»­ Governor Joe Lombardo, the Â鶹ӳ»­ Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee and the Economic Development Authority of Western Â鶹ӳ»­. I want to thank them for seeing the value of aligning our educational institution with the efforts of these critical industries.

The funding received today from the EDA, combined with generous funding from the State Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee, will focus on two projects, one of which is the Â鶹ӳ»­ Native Nations Center project, led directly by the University’s Office of Indigenous Relations. This project will provide a nationwide model, with direct input and consultation with Tribal communities, addressing workforce barriers and inequities while providing career pathway opportunities for Â鶹ӳ»­’s Native American, Tribal and Indigenous peoples in the lithium batteries and electric vehicle materials industries. We are very proud of the Â鶹ӳ»­ Native Nations Center as it is the only EDA Tech Hub-funded project that focuses on education and workforce development for Native American and Indigenous peoples.

Our Workforce Development Component project will develop, enhance and support a skilled workforce capable of meeting the dynamic hiring needs of the lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors. The project plans to impact 50,000 workers over the five years of the grant’s implementation, including a focus on reaching English language learners and those within the correctional system. 

While Â鶹ӳ»­ is known as the Silver State, it may soon be known as a global leader in energy technology, and we look forward to working with our many partners to evoke that generational shift in our state’s economic future.

Go Pack!

Sincere regards,

Brian Sandoval
President